December 31, 202
A few years ago, I read an article by Neal Pollard part of it is here along with a number of my own edits, comments and expansions.
Covid was a major concern and still has much of the world’s attention, Yet it is the latest in a long line of alarming diseases that have struck fear in people—AIDs, Asian Flu, Spanish Flu, smallpox, bubonic plague, and leprosy, just to name a few. Whether the horrific presentation, swift action, or painfulness of these conditions, just the names of these diseases raise the shudders of those informed about how deadly they are. An ailment that commonly brings about mortality gets our attention. Even if mortality is only possible, we are willing to give considerable effort.
During covid restrictions we were willing to do a whole lot to avoid contracting or spreading the virus. We wore masks, we stayed away from loved ones, we canceled large events. At certain points some were washing groceries and sterilizing with UV lights. Eventually many people took a vaccine the delivery of which took a huge investment of government resources and infrastructure. Regardless of how you felt/feel about the efforts there is no denying that they were significant.
Sin, however, often does its work on the individual without the dramatic presentation and many times in a way that feels painless to the “sufferer” until it is too late. But nothing is deadlier or more serious.
This causes me to wonder, how much effort we are willing to undergo to avoid the dangers of sin? Do we exercise care in where we go, what we do, who we do it with? Perhaps as some do with other dangers, we figure it can’t happen to me. We may feel the inconvenience is too much, or maybe we just are not willing to give up things we enjoy.
God made dealing with sin prominent subject in the only book He ever wrote. He identifies it in its every form, reveals the symptoms, warns of the potentially deadliness of it, and provides the cure.
The majority do not recognize sin for what it is, they incorrectly identify it, offer the wrong cures for it, and a great many just ignore what it is doing to them. They call it by other names, thinking that by doing that they are eradicating it from themselves. While that may numb them through this life, it will not serve them well in eternity.
The Bible says “sin is exceedingly grave” (Gen. 18:20), “sin is unhealthy” (Psa. 38:3), “sin is a disgrace” (Prov. 14:34), “sin brings guilt” (Mark 3:29), “sin brings spiritual death” (Rom. 6:23; Jas. 1:15), “sin enslaves” (Rom. 7:14,23), “sin is deceitful” (Heb. 3:13), “sin entangles” (Heb. 12:1), “sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4), “sin is of the devil” (1 John 3:8), and “sin is unrighteousness” (1 John 5:17). Yet, despite this, we know “fools mock at sin” (Prov. 14:9). A vicious disease is at work in them and, unresolved and untreated, it will lead them to eternal pain, but because it afflicts the unseen part of a person they cannot see the damage to their souls. They often see its effects in their own lives and in others’.
That’s where Christians come in, servants of the Great Healer. We are to get healing to as many as are willing to take the cure. We may be treated hostilely by some of those eternally ill, but we must risk sharing it for their good. We face a terrible epidemic but we have a cure that is 100% effective when properly applied
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means I desire mercy not sacrifice. For I came not to call righteous but sinners” Matt 9:12-13
~ Kevin Cleary